Sixty-three horses have died as a result of racing at the Grand National meeting since 2000, and countless others have been injured. Urge ITV to drop its support and stop broadcasting the event, in which horses are forced to race to their death.
At over 4 miles, the headline Grand National race is one of the longest and most hazardous in the world – the high risk factor is what makes it famous. Almost every year, horses lose their lives during the three-day “festival”, sustaining horrific and often fatal injuries at notorious fences such as The Chair, Becher’s Brook, and the Canal Turn. Every time horses are forced to jump these excessively high obstacles, it puts tremendous pressure on their slender front legs, leading to broken legs, necks, and backs.
When horses get too old or stop performing well enough to be profitable, they're often sent to slaughter. BBC Panorama’s The Dark Side of Horse Racing revealed that thousands of horses used for racing in the UK and Ireland are sent to the abattoir every year. They’re abandoned, neglected, or sold for slaughter, their flesh ending up either in dog or cat food or as “prime cuts” for human consumption in Asia and Europe.
Take Action
By broadcasting and promoting the Grand National, ITV is complicit in animal abuse and suffering. Please take a stand for horses today and ask the channel not to broadcast this cruel event.